Machine for capping bottles.



PATENTED JUNE 13, 1905.

11;. ROBINSON. MACHINE FOR GAPPING BOTTLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l No. 792,238. PATENTED JUNE 13, 1905.

H. ROBINSON.

3 SHEETS-SHEET No. 792,288. PATENTED JUNE 13, 1905. H. ROBINSON. MACHINE FOR CAPPING BOTTLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

'HIWIHIIHH UNITED STATES Patented June 13, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

HENRY ROBINSON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. ASSIGNOR TO OSCAR HEYMAN, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR CAPPING BOTTLES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 792,238, dated June 13, 1905. Application filed May 13,1904. Serial No. 207,782.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY ROBINSON, a resident of Newark, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Capping Bottles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has relation to an improved means for compressing soft-metal and similar capsules on the necks of bottles; and the principal objects of the invention are the provision of means for the above-named purpose which can be easily assembled by unskilled workmen and can be adjusted by any one to various sizes of bottles without danger to the machine, and can be operated by hand, foot, or mechanical power.

My invention includes as an article of manufacture an improved form of compression-cushions which has certain marked advantages over those hitherto produced, which advantages are hereinafter set forth.

My invention is illustrated in certain preferred forms in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of my device as adapted to operation by hand. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved compression-cushion. Fig. 3 is an end view of said cushion. Fig. 4 is a side view of a form of my invention adapted to operation by foot-power. Fig. 5 is a side view of my invention as adapted to operation by power; and Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in section, of a preferred form of means for transmitting pressure to the compression-cap of my device.

In the form shown in Fig. 1 there is provided a solid base 1, adapted to be secured by perforated flanges 2 and carrying vertical ugs 3 at one end and at the other end what may be termed the abutment-chamber 4, which is preferably in one piece with the base, as shown. This abutment-chamber 4 comprises a cylindrical cavity 5, having a substantially horizontal axis and a conical cavity 6, communicating with said cylindrical cavity and having its axis identical with that of said cylindrical cavity. The opening 7 permits introduction of the neck 8 of the bottle for the purpose hereinafter mentioned. Into the open cylindrical end of the cavity 5 there fits what may be called the c0mpres sion-cap 9, which fits the interior surface of the chamber 5, so as to slide easily back and forth therein. The compression-cap is formed with a conical chamber 10, corresponding to the cavity 6 in the abutmentchamber, and on the exterior surface of the cap 9 there is placed a concave socket of spherical form, (shown at 11.) Within the hollow space formed by the three chambers or cavities 5, 6, and 10 there is placed a compression-cushion 12, which is preferably made of rubber and is shaped substantially as shown, with oppositely-sloping conical surfaces on its opposite ends, which surfaces fit within the conical cavities 6 and 10 aforesaid. I prefer to form the compressioncushion 12 with a symmetrically-placed circumferential exterior roove 13, which separates the two conica end surfaces of the cushion and causes the cushion-wall to be thinner than on each. side of the middle. The cushion contains a symmetrical hollow 14, the axis of which is identical with that of the cushion itself. This hollow is preferably closed at one end by a wall of the same material as the rest of the cushion (shown at 15) and provided with one of more openings 16.

In operation the neck 8 of a bottle is brought into the symmetrical space 14 in the interior of the cushion 12, substantially as shown in Fig. 1, with the usual soft-metal capsules 17 in place over the top of said neck. Force is then applied to push the compression-cap 9 into the cavity 5 of the abutmentchamber 4. The conical surfaces of the cushion 12 and its containing members, respectively, produce a compression of the rubber cushion 12 by a radial crowding thereof toward the central axis of the cushion, and this is continued until the inner surfaces of the cushion are forced down strongly upon the soft-metal capsules 17, squeezing it around the neck of the bottle, so as to make it conform to the exterior surface of said neck. In this operation the wall 15 insures an even and elastic pressure against the top portion of the capsule and prevents contact of the capsule with the inside of the cap 9. By providing the circumferential groove 13 around the cushion 12, as shown, I insure an initial inward buckling of the cushion and prevent possible outward buckling thereof. At the same time by this very buckling I pro duce the maximum compression on the capsule 17 just behind the bead on the bottle, where the compression is most important.

As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and in end view in Fig. 3, I prefer to form longitudinal grooves 18 on diametrically opposite sides of the interior cavity of the cushion 12. It is obvious that compression of the cushion will tend to form wrinkles on the interior surface thereof, and by providing the grooves 18 this wrinklin tendency is taken up or provided for at these grooves by the coming together of their edges. The result will be that the capsule when compresesd will be perfectly smooth except on two diametrically opposite longitudinal lines just under the grooves 18, and all unsightly wrinkling of the capsule will be avoided.

The means so far described may be combined with any desired mechanism for pushing the compression-cap 9 toward the abutment 4 without departing from the scope of this invention. I prefer, however, the device as hereinafter described for accomplishing this end.

The socket 11 is not essential for all forms of mechanism adapted to operating as above described; but in the preferred form of my device I use a push-block 19, one end of which fits into the concave socket 11, so as to permit of changes of angle in different posi tions of the machine, and power is trans mitted to the push-block 19 through a thrust rod 20. In the specific form shown in Fig. 1 the rod 20 is threaded, so as to fit an interior thread in the push-block 19, and this construction permits of adjustment of the co1nbined length of rod and block by simply turning the block 19 on the rod one way or the other. It is best to use a nut 21, also threaded on the rod 20, which can be screwed up tight against the flat face of the block 19, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to insure continuance of any adjustment once given to the device.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, which is adapted to hand operation, a lever 22, which is piv oted, as at 23, to one or more lugs 3 on the base 1, is provided with a handle 24 and a pintle 25. Appropriate jaws on one end of the thrust-rod 20 fit over the pintle 25, as shown in the drawings. I prefer to shape the lower end of the lever 21 so that a flat face 26 on this lower end comes down flat on the base 1 when the handle has reached the desired limit of its movement to the right in Fig. 1.

I also prefer to use a corresponding fiat face 27, placed substantially as shown, which makes similar flat contact with the base 1 at the other limit of movement of the lever 21. This second stop prevents undue forcing together of the parts 4 and 9, while the stopface 26 prevents the handle from flying back too far, and thus keeps the parts together.

In operating the entire device shown in Fig. 1 the rod and block 20 and 19 are first adjusted according to the size of the bottle and the degree of compression desired, and the nut 21 is then screwed home. Of course diiferent-sized cushions should be used where there is a considerable range in the size of the bottles. The bottle being introduced into the hollow 14, the handle 24 is drawn to the left in Fig. 1, and the lever 22 then acts, through the rod 20 and block 19, to force the compression-cap 9 into the cavity 5, with the resulting operation already described above. On the return of the lever 22 the elasticity of the cushion 12 drives the cap 9 outward and prevents the block 19 from falling out of the socket 11, also holding the jaws on the end of the rod 20 in position on the pintle 25.

The form of device shown in Fig. 4 is adap ted to use by means of foot-power, and here the lever 22 is replaced by a forwardly-curving arm 28, pivoted at 23, and a connecting rod or pitman 29 is pivoted to the upper end of the arm 28, as shown at 30. The lower end of the pitman 29 is pivoted, as at 31, to a lever 32, pivoted at 33 below the bench supporting the base 1, which lever carries at its outer extremity a treadle 34. By pressure with the foot 011 the treadle 34 power is transmitted through the pitman 29 and arm 28 to push the compression-cap 9 toward the abutment 4 for operation, as above described. When pressure is released, the reaction of the cushion 1.2 is assisted by the spring 35 or equivalent device attached to the lever 32. It will be understood that in Fig. 4 portions of the bench-legs and of the pitm an and of the spring 35 have been removed, so as to bring the whole device within the compass of the sheet. The actual height of the entire device in relation. to the length of the lever 32 is greater than is shown in the drawings.

In Fig. 5 I have shown my device as adapted to use where steam or other mechanical power is applied. This is the preferred form of my invention. Here an operating-lever 36 is driven constantly back and forth by the pitman 37, pivoted to said lever at one end and at the other end, as at 38, to a crank-arm on the shaft of the driving-pulley 39, driven by a belt 40. Inasmuch as the greatest resistance to operation is concentrated at the moment of final compression, I prefer to mount a fly-wheel 41 on the same shaft with the driving-pulley 39 and thus store up power during the relatively idle portion of each stroke which is available when the moment of final com ression is reached.

In Fig. 6 is shown a preferred form of combined push-block and thrust-rod which may be used in any of the embodiments of my invention, but is particularly appropriate in the form shown in Fig. 5, where mechanical power is applied.

It is clear that if by ignorance or carelessness such an adjustment between the push block 19 and thrust-rod 20 is set up as will bring the compresion-cap 9 in contact with the abutment 4 before the end of a complete stroke of the machine there will be great danger of breaking the machine at some point. This would also be likely to happen if the adjustment were such as to compress the cushion 12 up to its limit of compression, which would have the same effect as the bringing together of the parts 4 and 9. The form of device shown in Fig. 6 is designed to prevent an adjustment leading to this accident. Here the inner cavity of the block 19 is not threaded, but is made large enough to fit over the outside of the threads on the rod 20. One or more longitudinal slots 42 are cut through the walls of the block 19 and a pin 43 is driven through the rod 20 and the slot or slots 42. This pin should extend just far enough to be capable of sliding within the slots 42 without necessarily projecting beyond the outer face of the block 19. In this form the block 19 does not turn on the rod 20, and extension of the combined block and rod is produced by properly turning the threaded nut 21 on the rod 20. The reaction of the cushion 12 will produce a shortening of the combined block and rod when the nut 21 is unscrewed. The pin 43 thus acts by coming in contact with one or the other end of the slot or slots 42 to prevent extension or shortening of the combined block and rod beyond a certain point of safety. It is of course to be understood that the use of the form of device shown in Fig. 6 is not essential to my invention.

A variety of changes can be made in the various parts of this device without departing from the scope of my invention, and I am not limited to the details herein shown and described.

hat I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, a hollow compression-cushion tapering toward its end, an abutment, a compression-cap fitting the tapering end and means for pressing the compression-cap and abutment together with the cushion between them, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, a hollow compression-cushion tapering at its two ends, an abutment-chamber fitting one end of the cushion, a compression-cap fitting the opposite end thereof and means for pressing said cap and abutment together, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, a hollow compression-cushion having tapering ends and a depression between its tapering portions, an abutment-chamber fitting one end of the cushion, a compression-cap fitting the opposite end thereof and means for pressing said cap and abutment together, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, a hollow compressioncushion having tapering ends, an abutment-chamber having a cylindrical cavity and a conical cavity fitting one end of said cushion, a compression-cap fitting the other end of said cushion and formed to fit into the cylindrical cavity aforesaid and means for pressing together said abutmentohamber and compression-cap, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, a stationary abutment-chamber having a conical cavity and a cylindrical cavity communicating therewith, a compression cap adapted to slide in said cylindrical cavity and having a conical cavity, a resilient hollow cushion fitting both said conical cavities and means for pressing said compression-cap into said cylindrica-l cavity, substantially as described.

6. As an article of manufacture for the purpose described, a hollow compressioncushion having two oppositely-tapering ends, substantially as described.

7. As an article of manufacture for the purpose described, a hollow compressioncushion having an exterior circumferential groove between its ends, substantially as described.

8. As an article of manufacture for the into said block and carrying a pin which extends into the slot in said block and a nut threaded onto said thrust-rod, substantially as described.

HENRY ROBINSON. Witnesses:

H. S. MAcKAYE, FLoRENoE Flex. 

